Interview with RILEY’S FIRST DATE? Director Josh Cooley and Producer Mark Nielsen #InsideOutBloggers
As previously stated in a post a few days ago, I was lucky to see the short Riley’s First Date while visiting Pixar. We not only got to see the movie we were also fortunate to interview Director Josh Cooley & Producer Mark Nielsen who were great to talk to.
The success of Inside Out is so great that we wondered if the short was conceived while they were making the movie or after seeing such success. Josh assured us that he actually came up with the idea while they were working on the film and that Pete Docter (Inside Out Director), Jonas Rivera (Inside Out Producer) had already begun to think about doing a short. Once the idea was in place it took about 10 months from when Josh pitched it to Pete, Jonas and John Lasseter to the final sound mix.
Both Josh and Mark have daughters, so it was fun to think about how they would react when their daughters brought home their first dates. An editor overheard them talking about their young daughters and said, “Oh you have nothing to worry about until she brings home the first boy.” That was when the seed was planted to explore this further.
Now in the film there is a bit of music, and ode to the an iconic band as we found out, ACDC. Mark explained how they had tried out a lot fo music and bands but wanted it to be something Jordan as a kid can be into and could be familiar with as well as, as the Dad. Josh added that it kinda’ came out of when I met my father-in-law for the first time I had this kind of awkward like you know, “Hi I like– I love your daughter” kind of a thing. And the thing we connected on was music.
Inside Out has been hailed as a film that can help children deal with their emotions, and even Josh and Mark have experienced this with their own children. They say things like Josh’s son “Daddy my anger wants to take control.” Even health professionals have come up to Josh and told them how the film has helped them do their jobs better, it’s open up communication within the children that wasn’t there before. That is huge!
Speaking of emotions, like we asked other stars previously, we wanted to know which emotions was their favorites. Mark chose Joy because he is optimistic by nature and loves Amy Poehler and what she brought to that character. Josh also chose Joy but had an affinity for Sadness as well.
Since the short starred most of the characters from the film they really only had to cast a few new people, of course, the boy and then for some of the emotions in each persons head besides Riley’s. Fun fact, the first emotion in Jordan’s head that says “Dude what is he lookin’ at?” is Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Riley’s First Date is both touching and funny. As creators of the film we asked them if it was easier to create material that makes people laugh or cry. Josh said that he thought comedy was easier for him because that is what he was used to doing. Mark also agreed that comedy was easier, the more emotional scenes were the ones they struggled with the most.
Making the film is amazing, and because it is done so quickly they develop an affinity for certain aspects of the production process. Mark likes shot production. I like it when we’re actually in there animating and lighting the shots, which you know for the feature film that’s like the last year. Like for Inside Out it was a 5 year process to make that film.That’s when the crew’s at its biggest you know. Maybe 225 people are on the crew for Inside Out that last year. So there’s just so much activity. The Director is just going from review to review just seeing work done by all the different Depts. And I think I like the energy of the kind of shot production part of it.
Josh likes the very beginning of the process when it’s in the Story Department… which is the very beginning into the process where we’re just kinda’ brain storming ideas. I really enjoy that. Like what the potential of what it could be and going from that into animation and seeing it actually come to life is always exciting.
Now that the short has been released we asked what was next for them. Josh said in a dead-pan voice Well, I’m working on a small independent film called Toy Story 4, and the whole room burst into laughter! Josh is the Co-Director with John Lasseter which made him exclaim how much he loved working with him from day 1 at Pixar, 13 years ago. I love working with the guy. And he’s so talented and just so awesome and there’s no pressure at all.
Mark added, He’s incredibly inspirational with his crew. I had the chance to work on all of his earlier films and the crew just loves working with him. He’s so engaged with any individual when he’s sitting with them and reviewing their work he’s complementary. He’s warm, and he just gives great solid notes in a way that just kind of blows us all away every time.
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Disclosure: I was provided with an all-expense trip to San Francisco by Walt Disney Studios to attend various events. All opinions are 100% my own.
